Kareen E. Barnett, age 68, passed away Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Avita Health Hospital in Ontario, OH following a brief illness.
Born July 19, 1957, in Attica, OH, to the late Gerald and Lois (Hossler) Shoup, she had been a Shelby resident for the past 22 years. She graduated from Willard High School in 1976 and attended the University of Phoenix briefly.
Kareen had been employed as a Merchandising Specialist, working in retail sales management for multiple companies, before retiring in 2019. She had a passion for being outdoors, especially if it meant camping at East Harbor State Park or fishing for walleye and perch on Lake Erie. She loved vacationing to Florida, which included some of her favorite destinations – Destin, Fort Myers and Naples. She was known for being a wonderful cook and always looked forward to preparing family dinners. Her favorite time of year to cook was during the holiday season, where she could prepare large feasts for her family and enjoy their company.
Family and friends were a priority to Kareen. She enjoyed the little things in life like spending time with the ones she cherished most. Whether it was playing Euchre, watching college football, or enjoying a meal together. She was at home when she was surrounded by those she cared about. She particularly loved being a grandma – a role she shined in. Her favorite thing to do was support her grandchildren in their sporting endeavors.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Clay and Jeraca (Yetzer) Barnett of Shelby, OH; two grandchildren, Grayden and Quinn Barnett; brother, Kenny (Cindy) Shoup of Willard, OH, and sister, Debbie Wilkinson of Columbus, OH; numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Dennis Shoup, and nephew, Brian Shoup.
A celebration of Kareen’s life will be held at a later date.
In place of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shelby Little League at P.O. Box 126 Shelby, OH 44875 or Shelby Girls Softball at P.O. Box 772 Shelby, OH 44875.
Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby is honored to assist the family with arrangements.
Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com
Funeral Home: Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory
Website: www.barkdullfuneralhome.com